I had a seriously humbling moment last night. I have been speaking at Rolling Hills Junior High Camp this week in Redding (wow, redding is, uhhhm, not my fav). I finished speaking last night about Jesus’ mission to serve the world. Specifically how intentional he was about putting himself in situation and circumstances where he would have opportunities to serve those who least expected his love and compassion. Following my talk the youth group leaders organized a time of foot washing. I haven’t done foot washing forever. I don’t like foot washing a whole lot - I think I dislike my feet being washed by a stranger worst than washing a strangers feet.

So I am sitting there watching all these kids when this little junior high girl approaches me and asks if she can wash my feet. Here name was Elaina. I hesitated for a moment. I thought, this was their exercise not mine. How could I say no to this little junior high girl? I mean how much courage does it take to come up to the speaker of your camp that you do not know and ask if you can wash his feet? I’ll answer my own question, A STINKIN TON OF COURAGE!

I walked over to the station, sat down, and she started washing my feet. I was seriously humbled. She washed every part of my dirty feet and then took a dry towel and wiped them dry. It took everything in me to allow her to continue. I found myself wanting to tell her that was enough and thank you for being so sweet, being such a servant. However, I sat humbly until she finished.

I find with myself that sometimes I have a hard time accepting acts of love and service. I don’t know if I think I am stronger and can survive on my own without the assistance of others? I hope this is not what it is - but it more than likely may be. Elaina taught me last night that allowing people to serve me and each other truly benefits the one who gives. Seriously, this little girl’s face was shining. She was proud and obedient and ready to continue to live this life once she heads home.

Next time someone wants to be Jesus to you, let them. Accept the gift. Serving is as much about accepting another persons offering of love as it is about giving.

Thanks Elaina.

I am speaking this weekend in Ohio at Southbrook Church as a part of their series titled: “One Hit Wonders.” Looking forward to partnering with this church as I talk about my favorite subject: The Kingdom of God. I am going to be speaking about the invitation given by Jesus to the spiritual zeros of the society. Jesus offers life in his kingdom to everyone who is unable to live up to the heavy religious demands outlined by the Pharisees. Jesus has come to invite all people into a life with him that is more about love and relationship than about demands and boxes. Should be fun.

Not sure if I should be honored to be labeled a One Hit Wonder…:)

Unaware of my future relationship with Mark, I first met him at his wedding. Rachel and I grew up together, our families connected through church. As I sat and watched Mark and Rachel marry I would never had guessed our lives would connect again. My friendship with Mark started because of our boys. Aidan and my son Cade entered their first year of soccer on the same team and Mark was one of the assistant coaches. After the first practice we set up a time to have some coffee. As became custom, Mark was always on time and I was always running late. I am not sure I ever walked in to meet Mark when his head wasn’t buried in his iPhone. He was writing email, updating his blog, downloading some cool app, or controlling CalChambers from some new plug-in he installed.

After connecting for coffee the first time I remember thinking – this is a special man. I committed myself then and there to walking this journey with Mark – he didn’t have a choice – our friendship was birthed and the journey began.

I spent many hours with Mark talking about life, about family, about sickness, about struggle, about God, about faith, about Jesus, about hope, and eventually about death.

Mark was a fighter. He knew the statistics, he heard the stories, he was well aware of the possibilities and outcomes associated with brain tumors, but he refused to allow them to control how he lived his life. I don’t believe there are a lot of brain tumor patients out there who were going to chemo treatments during their lunch breaks, attending their child’s soccer game just days after gamma knife surgery, updating blogs immediately following brain surgery, or finding new ways to kick a soccer ball or throw the football with their son.

When he was alive he was alive to live – to live life to the fullest. Mark loved to live and he was fun to live with.

I personally had some great fun moments with Mark. I learned he loved the Lakers quickly into our friendship and connected with one of my friends to get VIP seating at the Lakers/Kings game during the 2010 season. Although Mark was unable to walk the stairs on his own – we walked them together. We stood in the tunnel together as the Lakers stretched and prepared to exit the tunnel onto the court, we toured the King’s mascot SAMSONS DEN; moments he loved.

Mark had a great sense of humor. He wrote on his blog one day regarding an MRI:

“I’m glad I have an iPhone.  As I was ready to leave today for my MRI at 11am, I looked at my calendar.  It was in there for next Thursday!  Sheesh.  I have a brain tumor – what’s your excuse?!” MARCH 4, 2010

Or after Christmas Day, he felt couped up and restless, he wrote: “There aren’t even any bowl games on – not even the Toilet Bowl brought to you by Dow Chemical.  Sorry – my humor’s not there.” December 26^th 2008

Mark’s sense of humor still came out in spurts in the last weeks of his life. Just when you think he was not thinking clearly he would jump at you with the Mark we knew. Rachel and I were in the kitchen talking 2 weeks ago when Mark was rolled back into the kitchen. He rolled up to the table and the first words out of his mouth were, “Can we get Van Halen to play at my memorial service?” And then he smiled. We sat there for the next 5 minutes and joked together like there was no illness, no disease, no confusion. He informed us that he needed to go to the bathroom, we ignored him and kept talking. I stood up to leave, gave him a hug, and he grabbed my hand. As I stood over him he looked at me and said, “I’m going to shake your hand as I piss on your leg!”

Mark loved impacting the world through his blog. Mark started the blog to share his music with the world noting as a sub-point that he was entering into a trial in his life. His blog turned into a platform to help those struggling with this same disease and their family members. He had readers from all over the world. People would come to his blog for information and inspiration. He often talked about the impact of his blog becoming one of the purposes of his life. Listen to some of the impact he had through his voice, his blog.

“Mark became, for so many of us… a teacher, an example, a mentor, a prayer partner, a cheerleader, a hero, a pioneer and a human being to be admired and emulated.” ROBIN

“I am so saddened to hear the news about Mark and his mother. I have checked his blog daily for almost 2 years now. He was the first person who gave me info that helped me thru some really rough days with my husband, Marc, who is going thru this same journey. He educated me (us) on his illness and gave me so much insight. I have prayed for ya’ll. I think I am his #1 fan. My condolences to you and the boys. I have 2 small children too. May the boys always remember how wonderful, smart, talented and caring their father was. He touched many lives. I feel honored to have crossed his path.” STACEY – BATON ROUGE, LA

“Mark…your courage and way you’ve lived life to the fullest is an inspiration to all whose lives you’ve touched. Have peace in knowing that you have made a difference in this world.” MARK H

He was committed to knowing more about his treatment than most people so he could have a plan allowing him more time with those he loved the most and so he could encourage the those going through a similar journey.

Mark loved his family. Eventually Mark had to stop working and that was hard for him. However, not working allowed him to live life to the fullest with his family. Mark talked about how the time he spent with his boys when he stopped working was amazing. He felt like his connection with Keegan grew and consistently talked about how special his times talking to Aiden were to him. He loved their deep discussions about God, about soccer, about anything. Aidan, your Dad absolutely loved you with all his heart and he told us about it all the time. He loved throwing the ball with you in the backyard or attempting to kick the soccer ball; he loved helping coach soccer and being on the sidelines cheering you on – I believe he will always be there.

He wrote on his blog about Keegan: “I’m not working but so far my most important accomplishment is how much more I have fallen in love and bonded with my son Keegan.  He’s almost 3 (July) and I have never spent this much time with him.”

He loved his trips with Rachel, the family Safari weekend, and anytime dedicated to being together. He told me Rachel that this isn’t the way he expected life to go for you both – however, he said as hard as it was, he was so thankful to have you. In the last 2 months he constantly bragged about your strength, your organization, your willingness to take care of the Doctors appointments, medicines, and everything else in life. He knew you loved him and he knew you were a gift.

Mark loved so well through this journey because he knew he was loved. He knew he was loved by family, friends, and most importantly he drew strength in the fact that he was deeply loved by God. He did not blame God for his illness – he found strength in God. By faith he believed the promises of God were true, real, tangible, and for Him. Mark knew that God never intended for sickness and illness to ruin a life – God created Mark to live forever and yet this world full of brokenness invaded God’s plan.

From the beginning of the scriptures we see the greater story. Man chooses against God’s plan resulting in pain, illness, and brokenness to enter the world. This choice has resulted in death. Prior to this choice man and God enjoyed life as he intended – life in paradise; where the dark clouds did not represent sorrow and the sun shined brighter than any concern – life was perfect. God’s creation was intended to live with God in this reality forever. When God created man and woman he said this is really good. This is what I want. The longing of every human soul, whether realized or not, is to be back in paradise, free from death and disease, hurt, and pain.

God hates death – it wasn’t his original plan. To bridge the gap between his intention and our reality God entered the earth in the form of man, Jesus, to ultimately restore our lives to his design.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” JOHN 3:16-17

Jesus restored hope in what is to come – a future reality without death, decay, disease, tears, hunger, anger…this was Mark’s HOPE.

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” HEBREWS 11:1

This is represented on Mark’s license plate, on artwork given to him by his Mom, and written on his heart as a life verse. Mark, and very unexpectedly his mother Jo, both are experiencing what they hoped in as their reality. Given the opportunity to reenter this world Mark would not – life is being experienced in perfect with God. Life is being experienced free from the effects of a brain tumor, his tears have been turned to smiles, his anguish has been transformed to joy.

What Mark would want for each of us today is to experience a taste of heaven on earth. Today he would want your tears to translate to smiles – your pain to be transformed to joy – he has been healed, he has won the fight.

For many of us Mark actually comforted us in our times of struggle with his illness. This comfort he gave us-through his words, his blog, his relationship-has taught us how to comfort one another.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4

Mark is experiencing the compassion and comfort of God a loving Father. Today we ask and have faith that the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort will pour himself out on us. We ask that the assurance of Mark’s present reality comforts our discomfort and pain. We ask that the hope of our future reality with God free us from the hopelessness of physical death.

This was Mark’s strength. In closing, Mark’s very own words:

“I personally walk with God. How people go about it is a personal choice. For me God is in the middle of everything – the air we breathe. He decides when it’s time. Until then, each day is a gift to spend time judiciously with my kids, family, friends and doing things that are fun!”

“If there is one thing I’ve learned through all of this it’s that we all have trials in life. Call them problems if you’d like. If you aren’t in the middle of a problem now you are than other one to solve soon or you just came out of the problem.  They build endurance and character.   No one knows why trials of this magnitude occur. Why do young children have cancer? I don’t think any of us can answer those questions but what I do know is that the next life in eternity is a great place. There is no sorrow or grief. No worries but getting to a perfect place requires living in an imperfect place that is essentially a long lesson in humility. I don’t know about you, but humility is something that is a lifelong piece of work!”

“This is about faith, hope, strength and continuing to push the best I can. The disease may be beating me physically but it can never take who I am, what I have accomplished and will accomplish together with God and the undying love I have for my wife, children, family and friends. It will never do that and cannot ever do that – to any of us.”

“I also know that, for the most part, dark clouds clear in time and the sun breaks through again.”

“The fact is, I’m going to heaven soon where there is no pain, sorrow or grief- only perfection, only eternal joy, happiness.”

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” PSALM 23:4

We love you Mark. Thank you for leaving us with an example to follow and a HOPE to believe in.

July 18, 2010 marked the beginning of Team XXXchurch as we completed the Vineman 70.3 half Ironman Triathlon. Many months ago the idea was fresh and untested - would it work for a organization battling porn to break into the endurance world to raise funding and awareness? Absolutely YES! This last week our team, made up primarily of men who had no previous connection to the ministry, raised over $12,000 and completed a 70.3 mile triathlon. Our goal was to raise awareness to the ministry and to raise funds for the ministry.

As Sunday morning neared 6AM our team arrived and prepared for the event. We were all wearing our new team jersey’s and ready to fight the battle in front of us. In each wave members of our 8 man team started the journey standing tall for an organization we all believe impacts a forgotten segment of the world. There were a number of times during the race that I reflected on the battle many face each every day to stay free or to break free from the world of pornogrpahy. Having attended a number of porn shows with XXXchurch, the desperate eyes of the so many women caught in the world of porn inspired me to press ahead.

After the swim and the ride I was running the final 13.1 miles when I connected with a man out on the street. He asked me (as he ran past me) what X3 stood for and I briefly explained the mission of XXXchurch. He yelled back, “I thought that might be you guys!” I believe that as we do more events we will see an increase in participation by people we have never known or touched. In my mind, the Vineman 70.3 is just the first event of many.

We had amazing individual sponsors who jumped on board and supported the team as well as a number of companys. We are thankful to all of them, including: Safe Eyes, Internet Safety, Bridgeway Christian Church, Electrical Design, Simms Chiropractic, William Baker Law Offices, Synergy Brokerage, and HeartSupport.com.

Check out our Flickr pictures and sign up today for one of our events coming up…Thanks Team, you all did an amazing job!

We finally launched the new website featuring our endurance sports team for www.xxxchurch.com. Our goal is to bring awareness to the abuses of pornography and the helps we offer to those in need. Our team races this weekend at Vineman 70.3. All those on the team have trained diligently and are ready to finish strong.

As we swim, ride, and run we will be standing up for all those who have been destroyed by pornography. We will be finishing this race as a symbol of fresh starts and victories over the battle of pornography. You can check out our tweets and blog posts at www.teamxxxchurch.com.

We have set up teamx3church so that anyone can participate and get involved. You can go to the site and join a team, start a team, or be a solo team. We are gearing up for future events including the Rock N Roll Marathon in Las Vegas this year. We would like to have over 50 runners from teamx3church. WE NEED YOU!

Go to the site, read through the info, and jump on board for a future event. It will not only make a huge impact in your life but also in the lives of those we are able to touch through xxxchurch.

Head to www.teamxxxchurch.com NOW!

As many of you know my close friend Mark Miller has been battling brain tumors for the last 3 years. It has become clear recently that he is now entering his final stages of the fight.

Mark has been a fighter. When he was told he would never walk again following surgery, He defiantly disagreed and walked. When he was given the statistics on the length of his life based on his diagnosis, he determined his mind to overcome the odds. When he was told his diagnosis would be fatal he was determined to live the impossible story and survive. Mark is a fighter.

One battle many people overlook is the spiritual battle. When your life takes an unreal turn and you find yourself confronting a deadly battle your conversations with God change. There are moments when you wonder why this is happening to you, moments where you are angry with God, moments when you pray without a lot of hope for answers, and moments where you question if God is real.

Although I am sure Mark went through many of these difficult moments, at the end of this battle he is living like Jesus is real. He is living like the promises of God are more than antidotes to life, but experiences to be anticipated. What Mark once saw as important in his life have taken a back seat to Jesus, family, and friends. On Mark’s facebook he writes,

“Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever.”

This statement is central to living like Jesus is real today. In your life, is Jesus someone you use for selfish gain, someone you turn to after you have exhausted all other avenues, a religious icon? Or do you live day in and day out like the life of Jesus is relevant to today and a guide to your life? Do you live your life with the life of Jesus at the forefront of your mind? When you make choices and build relationships, does the life of Jesus have any influence on your decisions. Jesus never intended for us to store our faith away so that one day we could spill it all out at his feet in heaven. Jesus intended for your faith to produce his life in our present world. Some times it takes tragedy to unleash the tangible story of Jesus into our own lives - Mark’s life has unleashed this power.

As I have watched and listened to Mark, I have been challenged to live like Jesus is real in every area; to have a faith that responds to the person of Jesus here and now. What good is it to store up all this faith for a future moment - faith is for the here and now.

In honor of Mark, more so, in honor of Jesus - will you live like Jesus is real?

Commit with me today to live like Jesus is more than a story in a book or a world wide religious icon.  Allow the kingdom of God, the reality of Jesus’ life, to be seen TODAY through you.

In Serrano Magazine - El Dorado Hills - spreading love to Honduras

Have you ever stopped and thought about the tension between the promises of Jesus and the reality of our world? Jesus is the Savior of the world, the King of all Kings, and the very presence of God among creation and yet following his death and resurrection the world is still suffering. Many people ask me why.

If Jesus was really who he said he was then why are we still living in a world where the innocent hurt, the sick die, and the hungry go without food and shelter. I think this is a reasonable question. In the midst of such tension I live with a deep conviction that God is in the business of making all things right. God is committed to taking this broken, hurting, and confused world and bringing healing and restoration.

If you read through the New Testament you will find testimony after testimony of Jesus restoring the health of the sick, the sight of the blind, and the hope of the hopeless. Outside of Jesus’ great compassion and grace what else do these miracles teach us about Jesus and His mission?

“Pay close attention now: I’m creating new heavens and a new earth. All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten. Look ahead with joy. Anticipate what I’m creating: I’ll create Jerusalem as sheer joy, create my people as pure delight. I’ll take joy in Jerusalem, take delight in my people: No more sounds of weeping in the city, no cries of anguish; No more babies dying in the cradle, or old people who don’t enjoy a full lifetime; One-hundredth birthdays will be considered normal—anything less will seem like a cheat.” [ISAIAH 65:17-20]

When Jesus touched the broken, fed the hungry, cured disease, and cast out demons he was bringing the new kingdom of God to earth. In all of the healing recorded in the New Testament we learn a little bit about what the earth will be like when Jesus makes all things right. When people were healed their frowns were transformed to smiles. When the deaf received the gift of healing they experienced the beauty of music, tones, voices, birds, invention, and life. I imagine as the man lowered into the presence of Jesus through a roof top gained the use of his legs he danced, ran, and jumped with a new spirit about life.

In the scriptures there is a common theme - the broken are restored. The coming of Jesus makes all things right. Jesus restores the world.

We live in a broken world today because of the presence of evil. Jesus introduced the Kingdom of God and restoration of all things and yet his work is not yet completed. We have been invited into the kingdom of God and experience many of the benefits today yet we still live in a world that is awaiting the final scene.

“The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead.” [ROMANS 8:19-20]

Our future is secure and guarantees a life free from the pain, dysfunction, and chaos of our current reality. Jesus’ life is proof to what is to come. Every miracle Jesus performed builds our confidence of a time when all things are made right and life as God intended is restored.

“My journey today will bring me closer to home; it may be just around the bend. All we long for, we shall have; all we long to be, we will be. All that has hurt us so deeply will be swept away.” [ELDREDGE]

I guess we have two choices as we live in this tension of the kingdom of God being here now and yet to come. One, we join Jesus in his kingdom work and life. Two, we focus our attention inward and utilize everything the world offers to ease the pain the tension creates.

I choose to join Jesus in bringing the reality of the kingdom of God to earth HERE AND NOW. The work is not yet finished and He has chosen you and I to be the hand and feet of God to the people of our world.

Join Him…

In Mark Batterson’s book Primal: A Quest For The Lost Soul of Christianity and his chapter about the mind of Christianity, he talks about visual perception. He spoke about a lecturer showing an audience various images and then asking them to identify what they saw in the sketches. One of the images was a stenciled drawing of a couple intimately embracing. The audience of adults easily recognized the image. I know boring, so just hold on. He then talked about showing this same image to a group of children. When the children saw the image they could not see the couple embracing. The majority of the children said that in the image of a couple intimately embracing they saw nine dolphins. The point is that the children were unable to visualize the couple intimately embracing because they had no previous experiences or memories associating to the  image. Mark Says, “you cannot see what you do not know.”

I think this is a very interesting thought as we look at God at our relationship with God.

Richard Restak says, “learn more, see more.” This is a very valid point. When you know more about nature you will see far more in nature. When you know more about football then you will see far more in a football game then someone without the knowledge. So here’s my point.

It is absolutely critical that we are learning the right things about God.

If you fill someone’s mind full of knowledge regarding God and it is not accurate then you create a false reality for that individual. They will orient their life around this reality and often times push or force on others. People are walking around all over the place with a misunderstanding about who God is and their life is consumed by guilt and shame. They see God as angry, judgmental, bitter, or as a hot-headed step dad. They then place this reality in a box and operate their whole life with this understanding. Maybe even more troubling is the tendency to force their religious demands and presuppositions on everyone else. This corrupt lifestyle creates divisions and quarreling in the church of Jesus.

I believe this is another reason why there is such a high standard for teachers. As you impart knowledge into the life of another person you play a part in creating that individuals worldview, convictions, and lifestyle.

When it comes to what you think you know about God: challenge your presuppositions, study God’s Bible, and seek out the advice and leadership of others in your life.

What if you go your whole life learning the wrong things about God?

I am reading John Eldredge book titled, Epic - The Story God is Telling, and I have been struck, knocked over, hosed, whatever you want to call it! John talks about how all the stories told in our world (movies, books, etc) borrow from the real story. When we are impacted by a story-brought to tears, laughter, passion, conviction, motivation- it is because the story taps into the larger story of God and his intent and desire for creation. Stories speak to our “hearts deepest desires” and leave us wanting more. We long for the completion of God’s story in our world that is far beyond what a person can dream up and create. To truly embrace the longings of our hearts you would have to go “deeper and higher than any of them alone.”

“Christianity claims to that for us.

Not the Christianity of proper church attendance and good manners. Not the Christianity of holier-than-thou self-righteousness and dogmatism. Not another religion, thank you.

That is not Christianity. Oh, I know it’s what most people, including the majority of Christians, think Christianity is all about. They are wrong. There is more. A lot more. And that more is what most os us have been longing for most of our lives.”

The story that truly touches and impacts our hearts is the story of God. The story is written for you and you are the main character in the eyes of God. It has little to do with the measurements and formulas we have created in the modern day church. The great story of God has everything to do with a love that unleashes a life worth living.